Online Media and Role-Playing Games

Introduction

Role-playing games emerged in the developed nations of the Western world such as America and also Europe. In the late 1970s many online multiplayer games began to emerge. These online games were referred to as Multi- User Dungeons (MUD). Many of these online games were text-based with simple graphic adventures (Bainbridge 2010). Since many of these games lacked graphics, they relied on textual descriptions. Imagination also assisted the players when they were playing the games. The games were played through typing simple actions in a computer such as 'n' which meant an action of moving north and 'attack' which initiated a fight.

Arguments and findings

In the article "The Judgment of Thamus," by Neil Postman, addresses Phaedrus. Phaedrus was a story by Plato about the great king of Upper Egypt. Thamus was a great king of Upper Egypt whose story, according to Neil Postman, has principles that fit the absurdity of technology in the present technological era. According to Neil Postman, the story of Phaedrus covers the issue of an individual who doubts the innovation of writing (Divanna 2003). The story also addresses how the new medium of is able to make people less intelligent beings because it makes individuals not to use their minds but rely on technology that is hard for them to comprehend. This makes individuals dummies who recite something that they are not able to understand. Postman points this as an example of how technology has affected people in the wrong ways. According to Postman, technology has made human beings less intelligent because they rely on technology to do everything for them without them making use of their brains (Divanna 2003).

Neil Postman addresses the fact that technology can be both a burden and also a blessing. The story also states that there are many people who are blinded by what technology is capable of accomplishing. Many of these people are only concerned of what technology can do but do not consider the effects of the technology and how it affects them in the negative perspective. Neil Postman points out the many disadvantages of technology and how it leads to a negative impact to human beings (Divanna 2003). Many people embrace the advantages of new technology but do not consider the short and long-term effects of the same technology. The article points out that it is important to criticize much technological advancement so as to hinder the community from heading to a disastrous situation (Divanna 2003). Technology can lead to disaster such as mass murder by the use of certain weapons such as atomic bombs. Although technology is important in society certain measures should be taken to monitor technology so that it does lead to the death of human beings.

Online role-playing games and its users

Star Wars Galaxy is an example of a role playing